Waytha tells Tengku Adnan to act in the public interest instead of acting powerless.

KUALA LUMPUR: Hindraf Chairman P Waytha Moorthy expressed his shock at the Federal Territory Ministers blatant ignorance regarding the laws and his responsibility to protect and save Malaysias heritage.

He said in a statement that Tengku Adnans claims that the government has no power to stop the private development and can only advise the land owner to retain the Vivekananda Ashram building in Brickfields clearly shows the minister is ignorant on the laws available and demonstrates his shallow attitude towards our national heritage.

Waytha pointed out that it was widely known that the National Heritage Department had gazetted the Ashram earlier in 2008 & 2009.

He said the argument put forward by the FT minister and KL mayor that the board of trustees could go ahead with the development plans while maintaining the heritage site was utter rubbish.

It does not take a rocket scientist to tell that the planned development would cause permanent destruction to the heritage building, said Waytha.

He was disappointed with Tengku Adnans lackadaisical attitude towards the fight to save the Ashram and accused him of making a mockery of Malaysias status as a committee member of the World Heritage Committee. The minister seems to have conveniently ignored and failed to consult the heritage department on the buffer zone requirement, and whether a prior study existed following the guidelines set by the relevant authorities.

As a Minister, he should not open his mouth if he is not aware of the facts, the laws and the need to protect our national heritage, said Waytha who felt that the public would not be so foolish as to accept his passing the buck statement.

He told Tengku Adnan to invoke his powers to suspend the development plan and to do what is best to serve the public interest.

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